Walton c



W. 0. DAVENPORT. SECURING GUN BARRELS T0 STOCKS.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 9, 1894.-

I I l UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

WVALTON C. DAVENPORT, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H. DAVENPORT, OF SAME PLACE.

SECURING GUN-BARRELSiTO STOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,434, datedJ'anuary 9, 1894. Application filed May 10, 1893. Serial No. 473,7I'7. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WALTON O. DAVEN- PORT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwich,in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech- Loading Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in breech-loading fire arms, and it consists essentially in the novel construction of the barrel-lug and breech-frame, whereby the parts are adapted to be secured together in a strong yet comparatively inexpensive manner. In guns of the type 'just referred to it is usual to so construct them that the barrel portion may be detached from the breech or frame portion, thus making the gun separable as it is termed so that when not in use it will require less space when packed and may be carried about more conveniently.

I am aware that various devices have been employed for detachably securing the barrels to the breech portions of guns ras, for example, the forward part of the breech-frame has been provided with a round socket into which the rear end portion of the barrel (reduced in diameter) is inserted, and secured in place by means of a pin or key. In another casethe fastening device consisted of a seated barrel-lug combined with. an arch covered recess formed in the breech-frame to receive the rear end of the barrel. An objection to such former devices is the fact that they materially increase the cost of the gun; another disadvantage being that by enlarging the breech across the top to receive the barrel it serves to render the sighting more difficult.

By means of my improvement the gun is more cheaply constructed; the fastening is stronger, and the barrel may be removably mounted in the breech-frame with greater ease and facility.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a breech-loading fire-arm provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view, in partial section, and in enlarged scale, showing the breech portion, the several parts being in the normal position. Fig. 3 isa cross-sectional view, taken on line to m of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. represents the front end of the breech-frame, and Fig. 5 is a corresponding view of the rear end portion of the barrel.

A, again referring to the drawings, indicates a breech-loading gun, provided with my improvement.

I would state that the stock 5 forewood e, hammer 77/ trigger t, breech-block g, swingin g hook or guard h, link Z and spring 8 are or may be constructed as common to guns of this class. So also thebarrel b and breech-frame f may be made as usual except as to the means for interlocking these parts together,

It will be seen that the portion of the breechframe f forward of the breech-block is recessed along its top side, thereby forming a concave seat I) for the corresponding portion of the barrel 1). The bottom of the seat is cut away along its central longitudinal axis, thus producing a rectangular shaped opening d having parallel sides. At or near the base of said opening the side walls are recessed laterally to form opposite grooves d see Fig. 4, which extend rearwardly and parallel with each other; the lower portion d of the opening d is utilized to receive and forms a seat for the hook-spring s, it being retained in place by a screw 8'. The frame opening (1 is closed at its rear end by a short tie f, see Figs. 2 and 4; this tie not only serves to strengthen the frame transversely but it also forms a partial guide for the breech-block g.

The rear portion of the barrel b is provided on its under side with a T-shaped lug d extending centrally and longitudinally of the barrel, and forming practically the counterpart of the opening, before described, formed in the frame f. The lug is provided along each edge at the bottom with a lateral tongue m adapted to fit the side grooves (1 It will be seen that the lug does not extend quite to the rear end of the barrel, owing to the interposed tie f before referred to, see Fig. 2; the latter, however, forms a continuation of the curved seat I).

In attaching the barrel to the frame the corresponding end of the former is placed in position upon the outer end of the seat I), thus forming an initial support and guide, after which the barrel is forced home, or until arrested by the front end or face of the frame, the lug d at the same time sliding in the grooved opening; the vertical end faces of the adjacent parts then forming a tight joint, as atj, Fig. 2. Practically, the front end of the lug contacts with the tie f simultaneously with the engagement of the forewood with the end of the breech frame.

The parts are adapted to fit snugly together, thereby insuring greater accuracy and preventing lateral movement of the barrel.

In order to lock or secure the barrel in place endwise I employ a screw-key or pin 71 passing transversely through the frame and lug, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3; its insertion or removal being facilitated by the short crankarm 71'.

I do not limit my invention to the precise form of the barrel and frame transversely, as represented in Fig. 3, nor to the exact construction of the fastening key, since other equivalent forms and devices may be employed Without departing from the spirit of the invention; for example, the lug may have a dove-tail form cross-sectionally in lieu of the tongues m to insure the retention of the barrel in its seat, the frame being correspondingly grooved to receive the lug; and

the screw-key may have a slotted head adapted to receive a driver.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In a non break-down gun of the breechloading type, the combination,with the breechframe arranged to form a seat for the barrel and having a longitudinal slot formed in the frame communicating with the barrel-seat, of the barrel, as I), provided with a substantially T-shaped lug adapted to be inserted endwise into said slot, and means for removablysecuring the barrel in position against endwise movement, substantially as described.

2. In a breech-loading fire-arm provided with the usual adjunctive devices,the combination with the barrel provided with a substantially T-shaped lug on its under side, of the breech-frame having its forward portion concaved longitudinally to form a seat for the barrel and provided with an opening communicating with the seat the substantial counterpart of the lug transversely, a tie closing the rear end of said opening,and a screw-key passing transversely through the frame and lug, all constructed, arranged and adapted for operation, substantially as hereinbefore described.

In'testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VALTON C. DAVENPORT.

Witnesses:

S. A. WEBB, CHAS. F. THAYER. 

